The Rapid Ascent of the Methodical Filipe Luis as Flamengo’s Coach

Filipe Luis still remembers the bombardment he had to endure as a player in Munich against Bayern under Pep Guardiola in the 2016 Champions League semifinals. Atlético defended the 1-0 advantage from the first leg and held on through an intense onslaught that allowed them to reach the final in Milan.

All of Simeone’s praetorians stated they had never experienced a similar offensive onslaught. Now, as the successful coach of Flamengo in his first challenging experience in the professional coaching realm, Filipe Luis will have to tackle this Sunday (10:00 PM, Dazn) in the round of 16 of the Club World Cup the powerful offensive machine of Bayern, led by wingers Michael Olise and Kingsley Coman. “He is very meticulous; he is constantly analyzing football. And he has the character to manage a dressing room like Flamengo’s,” asserts his former teammate Tiago.

His obsession with the secrets of the game and the speed with which he tries to establish his coaching career occupy most of his day. After his training as a coach at the Brazilian Football Confederation school, Filipe created a WhatsApp group with promotion classmates, coaches, and former teammates to analyze strategies and expand knowledge. “Fili is doing very well; he has already won three titles and lost only three matches. It wasn’t easy because coaching Flamengo is like coaching Barcelona or Madrid in Spain,” adds Diego Costa.

If Flamengo has to regroup near their area, Filipe Luis was part of one of the best defensive teams in the last 20 years. Simeone himself was one of those who encouraged him to become a coach and take on the challenge of leading Flamengo after Tite was dismissed. He jumped without a net from the U-20 to the first team. Previously, he had concluded his playing career at Fla by winning the Copa Libertadores.

“The DNA of Flamengo is to regain possession, pressure, and play direct and vertical football without rest,” Filipe explains.

Flamengo finished at the top of their group, where they won against Chelsea (3-1). This victory has led them to be seen as a green shoot in the Brazilian coaching sector, now that Carlo Ancelotti has become the first foreign coach in Brazil’s history. His name is also part of the quartet of homegrown men alongside Fernando Torres, Gabi, and Santi Denia, which Atlético manages for when Simeone leaves the Metropolitano bench.